Rolling Wave Planning

5 minutes 5 Questions

Rolling Wave Planning is a progressive elaboration project management technique where the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while work in the future is planned at a higher level. As the project progresses and more information becomes available, future work packages are detailed accordingly. This method is akin to developing the project in waves, hence the name. In schedule development, Rolling Wave Planning is particularly useful when projects have a long duration or when there is significant uncertainty about future phases of the project. It allows project managers to focus on immediate tasks while maintaining flexibility to adapt future plans based on evolving project dynamics, stakeholder requirements, or external factors. By planning in increments, project teams can incorporate lessons learned from early phases into later stages, improving overall project performance. It also helps in better resource allocation by focusing detailed planning efforts where they are most needed, reducing wasted effort on planning tasks that may change. Rolling Wave Planning aligns with iterative and agile methodologies, where responsiveness to change is crucial. It is beneficial in projects involving technology development, research, or innovation, where adaptability is key due to rapidly changing environments or requirements. In summary, Rolling Wave Planning enhances schedule development by providing a structured yet flexible approach, allowing for detailed short-term planning while keeping long-term plans adaptable.

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Question 1

Your team is working on an innovative project with high uncertainty in requirements and resources. Which approach would be most effective to create flexible plans?

Question 2

In Rolling Wave Planning, what is the recommended approach when a project team has a detailed understanding of near-term work packages but future work packages are ambiguous due to technological advancement?

Question 3

A project manager implements Rolling Wave Planning for a complex aerospace project. What best describes the process of updating work packages in this approach?

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